Donald L. “Don” Walker, age 89, of Paducah, passed away on Friday, January 19, 2024, at Baptist Health Paducah.
Mr. Walker was the retired owning partner of Apex Engineering, Inc., and had served 26 years on the Kentucky Baptist Health Hospital Board. He served as Corporate Board Chairman for Baptist Health from 1996 to 1998 and served many years as the Baptist Health Paducah Board Chairman. He also served as Board Chairman for Baptist Health Paducah Foundation and as a Finance Committee member for the Healthy Kentucky Foundation. Mr. Walker was ordained as a deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church where he was a long-time member.
Mr. Walker graduated from Danvers High School in Danvers, Illinois and from NYIT in 1970 with a BS degree in Engineering. He also attended Murray State University for his MBA. From 1957 to 1959, he served in the United States Army where he was a member of a Meteorological team giving data for weapons research.
Surviving is his wife of 68 years, Eva Lofton Walker; two children, Michael L. Walker and his wife, Debra of Paducah, and Linda Thompson and her husband, Teddy of Benton, Kentucky; three grandchildren, Jordan Walker, Ryan Walker and Annie Walker. Also surviving is his brother, Sam E. Walker and his wife, Sharron of Arizona and his sister-in-law, Gloria Walker of Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Walker also had three half-brothers and sisters; Rita Majors, Pat Kellogg and Tony Walker.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Walker and Lottie E. Berry along with his brother, Bobby R. Walker. His grandparents were the late Wiley E. Berry and Maggie Ellen Holt of Bandana, Kentucky and Reverend Samuel L. Walker and Nellie S. Randle of Paducah. Mr. Walker was proud of his heritage and his Paducah roots. His Walker ancestors came to Paducah in the 1840’s when James L. Walker moved to Paducah to become some of the first settlers of Paducah.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Rev. Katie Mckown officiating. Burial will follow the service at Mt. Kenton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Baptist Health Foundation, 2601 Kentucky Ave., Paducah, KY 42003.
You may leave a message of sympathy and light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com.